Device for sea urchins picking

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a device for sea urchins picking or the like from a water-filed area and collecting the urchins into a collecting member without damaging the same. The device includes an operable picking member for intaking and conveying an urchin-water mixture via a piping system into the collecting member, a draining system for draining water of the mixture from the collecting member and a pumping member for ensuring flow of the mixture within the picking member, piping system and collecting member, and of the water through the draining system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is related to US provisional application for patent 60/195,210 filed on Apr. 7, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a mechanism for collecting objects laying down at the bottom level of different water basin, and more particularly, to a device for sea urchins or sea hedgehogs picking or the like and collecting the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] For ages, seawater-filled areas and streams, rivers and waterways have been a source of food for humans. Regularly, new species of edible fish or seafood start to be commercially exploited. Consequently, an important new market of sea urchins and other animals living at the bottom of seas, oceans and rivers, and the like started to develop.

[0004] Traditionally sea urchin picking is a generally manual work performed by a diver at the bottom of reefs and collecting them in a basket or the like. This relative archaic method is slow, tedious and also not economical. There also exists a relatively high potential for accidents since the diver must resurface to empty his basket(s) a large number of times during a working day.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,737 granted on Sep. 22, 1977 to Lemmon and U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,671 granted on Feb. 28, 1983 to Grimes disclose fish pumping systems, which pump fish and water passing nearby their location using submersible rotary impeller means; non-submersible impellers could also be used.

[0006] The limitation of the prior art is that it is impossible picking sea urchins or non-living objects weighting approximately up to two pounds (2 lbs) from a water-filed area and automatically collecting them into collecting areas without potentially high damages of the sea urchins.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a device for sea urchins picking that obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for sea urchins picking that allows for gathering the sea urchins without any damage/hurt to the same, thereby allowing for collected young small sea urchins to be returned into the sea.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for sea urchins picking that allows for continuous and economical gathering process.

[0010] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device for sea urchins picking that is simple, adaptable, and easy to build.

[0011] Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a device for sea urchins picking that is adaptable for operating by a person or by a different operating system (for example optical or acoustical).

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for sea urchins picking that is efficient and requires a relatively low power pumping system.

[0013] An advantage of the present invention is that the device for sea urchins picking is also capable of picking other living and non-living objects from the waterbed with a weight up to two pounds (2 lbs) or even more.

[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] According to an aspect, the present invention consists of a device for sea urchins picking from a water-filed area and their collecting into a collecting means without damaging the same. The device includes an operable picking means for intaking an urchin-water mixture and conveying the mixture via a piping system into the collecting means, a draining system for draining water of the mixture from the collecting means and a pumping means for ensuring flow of the mixture within the picking means, piping system and collecting means, and of the water through the draining system.

[0016] Preferably, the picking means is a flexible tubing adjustably connected to the piping system. The picking means has an intake opening at its operating end. Preferably, only the picking means submerged into the water-filled area. Preferably, the piping and the draining systems are composed from rigid tubings that have an inner diameter passage adapted for of flowing of one of the urchin at a time.

[0017] Preferably, the collecting means has at least two tanks, the piping system has at least two piping subsystems integrally extending from the piping system via respective individual anti-backflow valve, the draining system has at least two draining subsystems integrally merging into the draining system via a selective gate, each of piping subsystems has a corresponding of draining subsystems and a corresponding of tanks, each tank has a fill and a drain openings connected to a respective of piping subsystems and draining subsystems respectively.

[0018] Preferably, the draining system includes a replenishment module which extended from the same with at least two replenishment submodules integrally continuing the replenishment module. Preferably, each of tanks has a secondary fill opening connected to a respective of replenishment submodules for partially filling the tank with part of the drained water of the mixture to ensure smooth filling of urchins into the same.

[0019] Preferably, each of tanks has a removable servicing cover and a wire netting located inside the same at the drain opening for preventing urchins from escaping from the tank.

[0020] Preferably, each of tanks has a removable servicing cover and a netting basket adjustably and removably secured inside the tank for collecting urchins. Preferably, the cover pivotably and sealably secured to the tank and has a latch mechanism to latch the same in a closed position against the tank. Alternatively, the cover includes both of primary and secondary fill openings.

[0021] Preferably, the tank has a bottom wall. Preferably, the bottom wall has a drain opening. Preferably, the bottom wall pivotably and sealably secured to the tank and has a latch mechanism to latch the same in a closed position against the tank.

[0022] Preferably, the piping subsystem has an exhaust valve positioned downstream of the anti-backflow valve.

[0023] Preferably, the pumping means is connected to the draining system. Preferably, the pumping means is a water-vacuum pump or a double-action piston pump.

[0024] Alternatively, the pumping means is connected to the piping system.

[0025] Preferably, the piping system has a first and a second piping subsystems integrally extending from the piping system, each of piping subsystems has an upstream and a downstream portions relative to the pumping means with a first and a second anti-backflow valves respectively. Preferably, the upstream and the downstream portions of the first piping subsystem merging with the downstream and the upstream portions of the second piping subsystem at a first and a second intersections respectively, both of intersections are located in proximity of the pumping means.

[0026] Preferably, the pumping means has a water-vacuum pump and a double-position plunger member having two separate chambers alternately linking two input openings connected to a respective of that intersections with two output openings connected to the pump upon position of the plunger member. Preferably, each of intersections includes a through-passage chamber with an urchin stopper member for temporarily accumulating a plurality of urchins from respective of upstream portions before being emptied to respective of downstream portions.

[0027] Preferably, the stopper member is a perforated basket. Preferably, the basket is of a cylindrical shape opened at one end for temporarily receiving urchins therein in a line-up configuration, whereby the perforated basket has a diameter adapted to have only one of the urchins flowing through at a time.

[0028] Alternatively, the pumping means is a double action piston pump with a piston separating two adjacent chambers connected to a respective of intersections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

[0030]FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an embodiment of a device for sea urchins picking according to the present invention in a working configuration;

[0031]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a first tank filling configuration;

[0032]FIG. 2a is a similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the filling of the second tank;

[0033]FIG. 3 is a partial section view of a second embodiment of the piping system and the collecting means in a first tank filling configuration;

[0034]FIG. 3a is a similar to FIG. 3 showing the same embodiment with the filling of the second tank;

[0035]FIG. 4 is a partial section view of a third embodiment of the piping system with a double action piston pump in a first configuration;

[0036]FIG. 4a is a similar to FIG. 4 showing the same embodiment with the pump in a second configuration;

[0037]FIGS. 5 and 5a are similar to FIGS. 4 and 4a showing a fourth embodiment of the piping system including a water-vacuum pump connected to a double-piston plunger; and

[0038]FIG. 6 and 6 a are similar to FIGS. 5 and 5a showing each intersection of the piping system including a cylindrical sea urchin stopper member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purposes and by no means as of limitation.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 2 a, there is shown an embodiment of a device 10 in accordance to the present invention for sea urchins U picking or the like from a water-filed area W. The device 10 collects the urchins U into a collecting means 40 without damage to the same and comprises an operable picking means 20 for intaking a urchins-water mixture A1 and conveying that mixture Al via a piping system 30 into the collecting means 40, a draining system 50 for draining the water A2 of the mixture A1 from the collecting means 40, and a pumping means 150 for ensuring flow of the mixture A1 within the picking means 20, piping system 30 and collecting means 40, and of the water A2 through the draining system 50.

[0041] The picking means 20 is preferably a flexible tubing adjustably connected to the piping system 30. The tubing 20 has an intake opening 24 at an operating end 22 and is submerged into the water-filled area W.

[0042] The floor F of the water-filled area W is covered with many sea urchins U, which can easily be found and picked one after the other by the operator or diver D operating the intake opening 24 of the tubing 20 in close proximity to each sea urchin U.

[0043] The sea urchins U will be stored in one of the recuperating tanks 70, 70′ (see FIGS. 2, 2a, 3 and 3 a) preferably located on the floating platform B of FIG. 1.

[0044] The piping 30 and draining 50 systems are preferably composed of rigid tubings with inner diameter passage adapted for easy flowing of one of the urchins U at a time, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2a.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 2, and 2 a, the collecting means 40 has a plurality, preferably two tanks 70, 70′. The piping system 30 has also at least and preferably two piping subsystems 60, 60′ integrally extending from the piping system 30 via respective individual anti-backflow valve 31, 31′. The draining system 50 has at least and preferably two draining subsystems 80, 80′ integrally continuing into the draining system 50 via a selective gate 52. Each piping subsystem 60, 60′ is connected to a corresponding draining subsystem 80, 80′ and a corresponding tank 70, 70′. Each tank 70, 70′ has a fill 72, 72′ and a drain 74, 74′ openings connected to the piping subsystem 60, 60′ and to the draining subsystem 80, 80′ respectively.

[0046] Preferably, the draining system 50 has a replenishment module 90 (see FIGS. 2 and 2a) extending from the same 50 with at least and preferably two replenishment submodules 100 and 100′ integrally extending from the replenishment module 90. Each tank 70, 70′ has a secondary fill opening 76, 76′ connected to a respective replenishment submodule 100, 100′ for partially filling the tank 70, 70′ with a portion A4 of drained water A2 of the mixture A1 to ensure smooth falling of the urchins U into the same 70, 70′. Optional respective water filling gate 101, 101′ controls the flow of water A4 through its respective secondary fill opening 76, 76′.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 2a, each tank 70, 70′ has a removable servicing cover 110,110′ and a wire netting 77, 77′ located inside the tank 70, 70′ at the drain opening 74, 74′ for preventing the urchins U from escaping from the tank 70, 70′. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a, the tank 70 a, 70 a′ could have a netting basket 75, 75′ adjustably and removably secured inside the same for collecting the urchins U.

[0048] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3a, the cover 110, 110′ is pivotably and preferably sealably secured to the second embodiment of the tank 70 a, 70 a′ and has a latch mechanism 120, 120′ to latch the same in a closed position against the tank 70 a, 70 a′. The cover 110, 110′ could include both the primary 72, 72′ and the secondary 76, 76′ fill openings (non shown).

[0049] The tank 70, 70′ has a bottom wall 130, 130′ (see FIGS. 2 and 2a) with preferably a second drain opening 132, 132′ to empty the same. Alternatively, the bottom wall 130, 130′ is pivotably and sealably secured to the tank 70, 70′ and has a latch mechanism 140, 140′ to latch the same in a closed position against the tank 70, 70′.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 2a, each piping subsystem 60, 60′ has an exhaust valve 33, 33′ positioned downstream of the anti-backflow valve 31, 31′ to allow for purging of the device 10 whenever required for maintenance, repairs or the like.

[0051] The pumping means 150, is connected either to the draining system 50 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a), or to the piping system 30 (as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 a).

[0052] The pumping means 150 can be a water-vacuum pump, a double-action piston pump or the like.

[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 6 a, the first 60 and second 60′ piping subsystems have an upstream 62, 62′ and a downstream 64, 64′ portions relative to the pumping means 150 with a first 31, 31′ and a second 35, 35′ anti-backflow valves respectively. The upstream 62 and downstream 64 portions of the first piping subsystem 60 merge with the downstream 64′ and upstream 62′ portions of the second piping subsystem 60′ at a first 65 and a second 65′ intersections respectively. Both intersections 65, 65′ are located in proximity of the pump 150.

[0054] The pumping means 150 shown on FIGS. 5 to 6 a has a water-vacuum pump 160 and a double-position plunger member 170 having two separate chambers 173, 175 alternately linking two input/output openings 177, 177′ connected to a respective intersection 65, 65′ with two output/input openings 179, 179′ connected to the pump 160 upon position of the plunger 170. Each intersection 65, 65′ includes a through-passage chamber 180, 180′ with an urchin stopper member 182, 182′ for temporarily accumulating a plurality of urchins U coming from its respective upstream portion 62, 62′ before being emptied to its respective downstream portion 64, 64′. The plunger 170 is hollowed to allow for water A2 to axially flow therein in on of the two positions of the same (see FIGS. 5a and 6 a).

[0055] Each intersection 65, 65′ of FIGS. 5 and 5a includes a through-passage chamber 180, 180′ with an urchin stopper member 182, 182′, preferably a wire netting, for temporarily accumulating a plurality of urchins U therein from its respective upstream portion 62, 62′ before being emptied to its respective downstream portion 64, 64′.

[0056] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a, the stopper member 182, 182′ is a perforated basket 184, 184′. The latter is of a cylindrical shape opened at one end 185, 185′ for temporarily receiving urchins U therein in a line-up configuration. Each perforated basket 184, 184′ has a diameter adapted to have only one urchin U flowing through at a time.

[0057] The pumping means 150 illustrated on FIGS. 4 and 4a is a double-action piston pump 190 with a piston 194 separating two adjacent chambers 193, 195 connected to a respective intersection 65, 65′. The chambers 193, 195 are adapted to temporarily receive the sea urchins U therein under the action of the piston 194. Guiding baffles 196, 197 are preferably installed in a respective chamber 193, 195 to allow a better flow of the mixture A1 out of the same through the openings 177,177′.

[0058] When a first tank 70 gets completely filled by sea urchins U, the selective gate 52 changes the conveying direction of the mixture A1 toward the emptied second tank 70′, and vice-versa. Urchin-water mixture A1 is conveyed by the pumping means 150 through the picking means 20 (shown on FIG. 1), the piping system 30, the anti-backflow valve 31 or 31′, up to the arrival of this mixture A1 in the empty tank 70, 70′. The urchins U are prevented from escaping from the tank 70, 70′ by the wire netting 77, 77′ or by the netting basket 75, 75′. The flow of the water portion A2 (possibly including small undesired young urchins U or small material picked up from water depth floor F) goes back into the water-filed area W through the drain opening 74, 74′, the selective gate 52 and the draining system 50. Simultaneously, whenever desired, some water A3 inside the tank 70, 70′ may be evacuated through the draining opening 132, 132′. The exhaust gate 33, 33′ of the piping system may also let some air to continuously go there through into the piping system 30 to avoid a situation under vacuum, thus facilitating the conveying through the draining system 50.

[0059] Alternatively, the device 10 could also be used for picking and collecting non-living objects such as small minerals and the like of various weight and density, with slight modification to the collecting means 40.

[0060] The tank 70, 70′ is emptied from collected urchins U by unlocking the latch 140, 140′ and opening the bottom wall 130, 130′, or by unlocking the lock 120, 120′, opening the removable servicing cover 110, 110′ and taking out the netting basket 75, 75′. For preventing any shock damage to the urchins U falling into the empty tank 70, 70′ at the early filling stage, the latter may get partially filled by water fraction A4 via the replenishment module 90 and its corresponding replenishment submodule 100, 100′. Furthermore, it is recommended to partially fill the tank 70, 70′ with water W before start picking urchins U since they are living animals. The longer urchins U will be in water, the longer they will remain alive and keep their freshness.

[0061] Materials used for the device 10 should resist to corrosion, such as for example stainless steel, galvanized carbon-steel, some aluminum alloys, brass or bronze alloys, and synthetic/plastic type materials (including a rubber-like material for the flexible tubing 22). A Plexiglas (trademark) window (not shown) could also be installed on the side of one or both of the collecting tanks 70, 70′ (not shown). A device 10 could also be equipped by a different detecting means (not shown) to detect when a certain quantity of urchins U has already been collected into each tank 70, 70′ in order to avoid obstructing the device 10 or any other piece of equipment used. The selective gate 52 could also have more than two positions, giving the possibility to have with the same pumping means 150 more than two tanks 70 (not shown), as long as corresponding other pieces of equipment are also provided according to the number of tanks 70. It is also possible to replace the existing anti-backflow valves 31, 31′ with another selective gate (not shown) synchronized with the same. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 a, it is also possible to have a collecting means 40 being either only one tank 70 (not shown) for collecting urchins U downstream of the piping system 30 or a sorting apparatus or the like (for either living or non-living picked objects).

[0062] Although the present device for sea urchins picking has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is to be understood that the disclosure has been may of example only and that present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A device for sea urchins picking from a water-filled area and collecting said urchins into a collecting means without damaging the same, said device comprising an operable picking means for intaking an urchin-water mixture and conveying said mixture via a piping system into said collecting means, a draining system for draining water of said mixture from said collecting means and a pumping means for ensuring flow of said mixture within said picking means, piping system and collecting means, and of said water through said draining system.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said picking means being a flexible tubing adjustably connected to said piping system and having an intake opening at an operating end of said picking means.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein only said picking means being submerged into said water-filled area.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said piping and draining systems being composed of rigid tubings, said tubings having an inner diameter passage adapted for easy flowing of one of said urchins at a time.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said collecting means having at least two tanks, said piping system having at least two piping subsystems integrally extending from said piping system via respective individual anti-backflow valve, said draining system having at least two draining subsystems integrally merging into said draining system via a selective gate, each of said piping subsystems having a corresponding of said draining subsystems and a corresponding of said tanks, each of said tank having a fill and a drain openings connected to a respective of said piping subsystems and said draining subsystems respectively.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5 , wherein said draining system including a replenishment module extending from the same with at least two replenishment submodules integrally continuing said replenishment module, each of said tanks having a secondary fill opening connected to a respective of said replenishment submodules for partially filling said tank with part of said drained water of said mixture to ensure smooth filling of said urchins into the same.
 7. A device as defined in claim 5 , wherein each of said tanks having a removable servicing cover and a wire netting located inside the same at said drain opening for preventing said urchins from escaping from said tank.
 8. A device as defined in claim 5 , wherein each of said tanks having a removable servicing cover and a netting basket adjustably and removably secured inside said tank for collecting said urchins.
 9. A device as defined in claim 8 , wherein said cover being pivotably and sealably secured to said tank and having a latch mechanism to latch the same in a closed position against said tank.
 10. A device as defined in claim 8 , wherein said cover including both of said primary and secondary fill openings.
 11. A device as defined in claim 5 , wherein said tank having a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a second drain opening.
 12. A device as defined in claim 11 , wherein said bottom wall being pivotably and sealably secured to said tank and having a latch mechanism to latch the same in a closed position against said tank.
 13. A device as defined in claim 5 , wherein said piping subsystem having an exhaust valve positioned downstream of said anti-backflow valve.
 14. A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said pumping means being connected to said draining system.
 15. A device as defined in claim 14 , wherein said pumping means being a water-vacuum pump.
 16. A device as defined in claim 14 , wherein said pumping means being a double-action piston pump.
 17. A device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said pumping means being connected to said piping system.
 18. A device as defined in claim 17 , wherein said pumping means being a water-vacuum pump.
 19. A device as defined in claim 17 , wherein said piping system having a first and a second piping subsystems integrally extending from said piping system, each of said piping subsystems having an upstream and a downstream portions relative to said pumping means with a first and a second anti-backflow valves respectively, said upstream and downstream portions of said first piping subsystem merging with said downstream and upstream portions of said second piping subsystem at a first and a second intersections respectively, both of said intersections are located in proximity of said pumping means.
 20. A device as defined in claim 19 , wherein said pumping means having a water-vacuum pump and a double-position plunger member having two separate chambers alternately linking two input openings connected to a respective of said intersections with two output openings connected to said pump upon position of said plunger member, each of said intersections including a through-passage chamber with an urchin stopper member for temporarily accumulating a plurality of said urchins from respective of said upstream portions before being emptied to respective of said downstream portions.
 21. A device as defined in claim 20 , wherein said stopper member being a perforated basket, said basket being of a cylindrical shape opened at one end for temporarily receiving said urchins therein in a line-up configuration, whereby said perforated basket having a diameter adapted to have only one of said urchins flowing through at a time.
 22. A device as defined in claim 19 , wherein said pumping means being a double-action piston pump with pistons separating two adjacent chambers connected to a respective of said intersections.
 23. A device as defined in claim 22 , wherein each of said intersection including a through-passage chamber with an urchin stopper member for temporarily accumulating a plurality of said urchins from respective of said upstream portions before being emptied to respective of said downstream portions. 